Danish Pork Meatballs Classic (Printable)

Golden pan-fried Danish pork meatballs with tangy pickles, offering a flavorful and satisfying meal.

# What You Need:

→ Meat Mixture

01 - 1 pound ground pork (or a mix of pork and veal)
02 - 1 small onion, finely grated
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 3.4 fl oz whole milk
05 - 0.4 cups breadcrumbs
06 - 1 tsp salt
07 - 0.5 tsp ground black pepper
08 - 0.5 tsp ground allspice (optional)

→ For Frying

09 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
10 - 1 tbsp neutral oil, such as canola or sunflower

→ To Serve

11 - Danish pickles, such as pickled cucumber or beetroot
12 - Rye bread or boiled potatoes (optional)

# Directions:

01 - In a large bowl, mix ground pork, grated onion, egg, milk, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, and optional allspice until the mixture is cohesive and slightly sticky.
02 - Allow the mixture to rest for 10 minutes so the breadcrumbs absorb the liquid.
03 - With wet hands, form the mixture into 12–14 oval or round meatballs approximately golf ball size.
04 - Heat butter and oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering.
05 - Fry the meatballs in batches, slightly flattening them with a spatula, cooking 4–5 minutes per side until golden brown and fully cooked.
06 - Transfer cooked meatballs to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess fat.
07 - Serve hot with Danish pickles and optionally rye bread or boiled potatoes.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • They're crispy outside and impossibly juicy inside, like the meatball gods decided to be kind to you tonight.
  • Twenty minutes of actual cooking time means you can feed people something that tastes like you've been simmering it all day.
  • The grated onion melts right in, so you get flavor without biting into chunks.
02 -
  • Do not skip the resting step; it's the difference between meatballs that hold together and ones that fall apart in the pan.
  • Flattening them slightly as they cook gives you that crispy exterior that makes them special—leave them round and they stay more steamed than fried.
03 -
  • Chill your shaped meatballs for even thirty minutes before frying, and they'll hold their shape better and develop a more even crust.
  • Don't flip them too early; give each side a solid four to five minutes to brown before you turn them—patience here is everything.
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